Victim Impact Facilitator

We are not currently accepting applications for volunteers at this time.

Victim Impact Facilitator

This program was established in 2010 and is comprised of volunteers who want to make a difference and believe people can change. Victim Impact classes, taught at the jail, help inmates identify the impact of their behavior on others, themselves, family, friends and community.

Men’s classes run for 8 weeks, are facilitated by a team of two volunteers and meet once per week for two hours. We are currently developing a new women’s Victim Impact class slated to begin second quarter of 2020. Approximately two hours of preparation time, which includes reviewing inmate homework, is required. Class curriculum includes use of speakers, documentary DVD and discussion with emphasis on accountability and change. New facilitators will be paired with an experienced facilitator until fully trained.

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Objectives and Qualifications

Program Goals and Objectives

Increase offender accountability for criminal actions,
Increase offenders’ empathy for victims and community affected by their actions,
Help offenders identify who else is affected by their crime (ripple effect),
Instill in offenders self-motivation to live crime free,
Provide a forum for victims for share their stories and influence offender behavior.

Facilitator Requirements

Facilitators must both understand victim impact issues and believe offenders can change. If either of these concepts is missing, the class will be less effective. The facilitator should understand many offenders have experienced some kind of victimization in their past which contributed to setting them on a negative path in life. At the same time, facilitators should be clear that past history is never an excuse to victimize others. The facilitators should also be able to manage discussions and present various viewpoints. Facilitators must be open and inviting, yet able to establish firm boundaries and respectfully confront denials, minimization, justifications, and be able to read class dynamics.

The goal is to establish a rich learning environment which incorporates relevant curriculum materials, adult-centered learning principles, experiential learning opportunities, cultural sensitivity, and activities to facilitate changes in offenders’ thinking, feeling, and behaviors.

Facilitators Qualifications

Facilitators using this curriculum should have the following qualifications:

Set healthy and strong boundaries
Engage participants in discussion, critical thinking, and problem solving
Demonstrate a commitment to a multidisciplinary approach to training
Prepare thoroughly for all sessions
Demonstrate flexibility, knowledge of victim issues, and believe people can change
Be comfortable volunteering in a jail environment
Work well with diversity
Keep confidentiality
Ability to manage strong emotions
Ability to manage conflict
Manage a co-facilitation team relationship
Demonstrate the ability to lead discussions and encourage exchange among participants
Ability to convey the victim impact message to a variety of learning styles and abilities.

Volunteers

All volunteers are asked to commit to joining the team for at least one year, and attend monthly meetings and training.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Victim Impact Coordinator: Devi Suess at 303-441-1752 or dsuess@bouldercounty.org

Please submit applications to:
Boulder County Sheriff’s Office Restorative Justice & Community Mediation Program
5600 Flatiron Parkway
Boulder, CO 80301
OR
email: Devi Suess at dsuess@bouldercounty.org
Phone: 303-441-1752
Fax: 303-441-4739

Victim Impact Facilitator